Women’s Health Month: Understanding Your Body, Protecting Your Fertility, and Exploring Your Options

Women’s Health Month is an important reminder that reproductive health is about far more than fertility treatment.

It starts with understanding your body.

From painful periods and irregular cycles to questions about future family building, many women spend years navigating symptoms, uncertainty, or simply not having clear answers. Too often, symptoms are normalized, dismissed, or disconnected from the bigger picture of reproductive health.

But your body tells a story.

Understanding ovulation, hormones, uterine health, ovarian reserve, and the conditions that may affect fertility is one of the most powerful steps you can take, not only if you are trying to conceive today, but for your long-term health and future options.

At Fertility Centers of New England, care extends well beyond IVF. Our team helps patients understand their reproductive health, identify underlying conditions, preserve fertility for the future, and explore personalized treatment options designed around their goals.

Because informed women make empowered healthcare decisions.

Fertility Is a Window Into Overall Women’s Health

Fertility is not an isolated issue.

Your menstrual cycle, hormone patterns, egg health, uterine environment, and reproductive symptoms can offer important insight into your overall health and wellbeing.

Common signs that may warrant a fertility or reproductive health evaluation include:

• Painful or heavy periods
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during intercourse
• Recurrent pregnancy loss
• Difficulty conceiving
• Known fibroids or ovarian cysts
• Symptoms of endometriosis
• Symptoms of adenomyosis
• Questions about fertility decline with age
• Interest in fertility preservation or egg freezing

Many reproductive health conditions are progressive, meaning earlier diagnosis can create more treatment options.

Conditions That Can Affect Women’s Fertility and Reproductive Health

Endometriosis and Fertility

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing inflammation, scar tissue, pelvic pain, and fertility challenges.

Symptoms may include:

• Severe menstrual pain
• Chronic pelvic discomfort
• Painful intercourse
• Digestive symptoms
• Difficulty conceiving

Endometriosis is often under diagnosed, with many women experiencing symptoms for years before receiving answers.

At Fertility Centers of New England, patients with endometriosis have access to advanced fertility evaluation, treatment planning, and specialized surgical expertise through our Advanced Reproductive Surgery Program.

Adenomyosis and Fertility

Adenomyosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows into the muscular wall of the uterus.

This condition may contribute to:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Painful cramping
• Pelvic pressure
• Enlarged uterus
• Fertility challenges

Because adenomyosis symptoms often overlap with other gynecologic concerns, diagnosis can be delayed. Understanding the difference matters when developing the right treatment plan.

Fibroids and Fertility

Fibroids are common, noncancerous uterine growths that can affect fertility depending on their size and location.

Symptoms may include:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Pelvic pressure
• Frequent urination
• Implantation challenges
• Increased miscarriage risk

Not all fibroids require treatment, but evaluation is important when fertility goals are part of the conversation.

Hormonal Imbalances and Ovulatory Disorders

Ovulation plays a critical role in fertility.

Conditions that disrupt ovulation or hormone balance can make conception more difficult, including:

• Irregular ovulation
• Diminished ovarian reserve
• Age-related fertility decline
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Other endocrine-related cycle irregularities

A comprehensive fertility evaluation can help uncover the cause and guide next steps.

Fertility Preservation: Protecting Future Possibilities

Women’s Health Month is also an opportunity to think proactively about reproductive health.

Not everyone is ready to build a family today, but preserving options for the future can be an empowering decision.

Fertility preservation may be appropriate for women who:

• Want to delay childbearing
• Are focused on career or personal goals
• Have been diagnosed with endometriosis
• May need surgery affecting reproductive health
• Are facing medical treatment that could impact fertility
• Want more insight into their reproductive timeline
• Egg Freezing

Egg freezing allows women to preserve eggs at a younger age for future family-building.

This can be especially valuable when fertility timing is uncertain.

Embryo Freezing

For patients with a partner or established donor plan, embryo freezing may also be an option.

Advanced Reproductive Surgery: When Expertise Matters

For some women, the path to fertility begins with addressing the underlying condition—not moving directly to IVF.

Fertility Centers of New England’s Advanced Reproductive Surgery Program, led by Dr. Antonio Gargiulo, offers highly specialized minimally invasive surgical care focused on preserving or enhancing fertility whenever possible.

Conditions that may benefit from advanced reproductive surgery include:

• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Uterine abnormalities
• Scar tissue or adhesions
• Complex reproductive anatomy concerns

This specialized approach can help improve symptoms, restore reproductive function, and create a clearer path forward.

Fertility Care Goes Beyond IVF

While IVF is one highly effective fertility treatment, it is only one part of a broader fertility care spectrum.

Services at Fertility Centers of New England may include:

Fertility Evaluation and Diagnostic Testing

Understanding fertility begins with answers.

Testing may assess:

• Ovarian reserve
• Hormone levels
• Ovulation
• Uterine health
• Fallopian tube function
• Male factor fertility
• Ovulation Induction

For some patients, less invasive treatment options may be appropriate before advanced treatment.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

IUI can be an effective fertility treatment depending on diagnosis and treatment goals.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

IVF remains an important option for many patients, but treatment recommendations should always be individualized.

Third-Party Reproductive Options

Family building may also include:

• Donor egg
• Donor sperm
• Gestational carrier pathways When Should You See a Fertility Specialist?

When Should You See a Fertility Specialist?

Many women assume fertility care begins only after years of trying to conceive.

In reality, earlier conversations can be incredibly valuable.

Consider scheduling an evaluation if:

• You are under 35 and have been trying for 12 months
• You are 35 or older and have been trying for 6 months
• You have painful or abnormal periods
• You have known endometriosis, fibroids, or adenomyosis
• You have experienced miscarriage
• You are considering fertility preservation
• You simply want a clearer understanding of your reproductive health

Knowledge is not a commitment to treatment.

It is information that helps you make informed choices.

Frequently Asked Questions About Women’s Health and Fertility

Can endometriosis affect fertility?

Can endometriosis affect fertility?

Yes. Endometriosis can affect fertility through inflammation, scar tissue formation, pelvic adhesions, and changes to the reproductive environment that may make conception more difficult.

Not every woman with endometriosis will experience infertility, but persistent symptoms deserve evaluation.

What is the difference between endometriosis and adenomyosis?

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus.

Adenomyosis occurs when that tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus.

Both can affect fertility, but diagnosis and treatment approaches differ.

Is IVF the only fertility treatment option?

No.

Depending on diagnosis and goals, treatment may include ovulation induction, IUI, fertility preservation, reproductive surgery, IVF, or third-party reproductive pathways.

When should I consider egg freezing?

Egg freezing may be appropriate if you are not ready to build a family yet, have a condition that may impact fertility, or want to preserve younger eggs for future use.

Can fibroids affect fertility?

Yes. Some fibroids may interfere with implantation or pregnancy depending on size and location.

Does painful menstruation always mean something is wrong?

Not always—but severe pain should never be dismissed.

Painful periods may signal conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, or fibroids.

Is fertility a reflection of overall women’s health?

In many cases, yes.

Cycle regularity, ovulation, hormone balance, pelvic symptoms, and uterine health can provide important insight into broader reproductive wellbeing.

Fertility is not simply about pregnancy. It is often a meaningful part of understanding women’s health overall.

A Final Thought for Women’s Health Month

Women’s Health Month is about more than awareness.

It is about listening more closely to your body. Asking questions sooner. Understanding symptoms that may have been normalized for too long. And recognizing that reproductive health is deeply connected to your overall wellbeing.

For some women, that means finding answers about painful periods, fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, or hormonal changes.

For others, it means exploring fertility preservation, understanding future options, or taking the first step toward growing a family.

No matter where you are in your journey, your questions are valid.

At Fertility Centers of New England, we believe women deserve expert, compassionate care that looks beyond a single treatment and focuses on the full picture of reproductive health.

Because understanding your body is not just where fertility care begins.

It is where empowered women’s healthcare begins.